On 7 August 2026, the European Commission and the SpaceRISE consortium concluded negotiations which began in January 2026 and signed an implementation agreement to roll out Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²). The agreement expands the main constellation to 348 satellites and moves IRIS² from planning to full-scale deployment. It confirms the timetable for developing and deploying the satellites, procuring launch services, building the secure ground segment, and providing connectivity services.
The expanded constellation will comprise 330 satellites in higher Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 18 in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), launched in successive phases, with additional optional elements which can be deployed to support specific missions if required. The revised schedule brings the first launches forward to 2029 and enables the early delivery of sovereign, secure, and accredited European connectivity services soon after.
Constellation reinforced for defence and security
To respond to a changing security environment, the European Commission is expanding IRIS² governmental capacity beyond what was originally planned. To provide additional functionalities and stronger security, the design of satellites in the baseline constellation will be enhanced and an advanced set of of 66 satellites in higher LEO will be added for defence, security, and emergency services.
Together, these changes will expand the secure communications available to governmental and defence users. The revised architecture will provide 60% more secure governmental capacity within the EU and 54% worldwide, significantly expanding Europe’s ability to support operations during crises. Defence and security applications are the primary drivers of these changes, although they also respond to a wider set of connected pressures linked to climate change and environmental degradation, which can disrupt livelihoods, intensify competition over resources, and contribute to displacement, migration, and instability. When these pressures lead to humanitarian or security crises, secure satellite communications can help governments and emergency services coordinate their response, including in areas where terrestrial networks are limited or disrupted.
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